Our Weekend In Boone

Traveling to Boone, NC, is such a treat for us. It's almost as if you can hear a relaxing "ahhhhhhh...." sigh as you drive up the mountain. Life is easier -- fewer distractions, lots and lots of nature to take in, and good family times. 

Ian had a light work day on Friday, so we were able to leave town early and make it into Blowing Rock for lunch. We stopped at an Irish pub, Sixpence, on Main Street and had (literally) the best Reubens of our lives. Afterwards, we popped across the street and let Camille get tons of energy out before her afternoon nap on the great playground they have there. 

Once we made it up to the house, Camille napped and Ian and I unpacked and prepped the house for two sets of visitors we had coming. Before everyone arrived, we had some time to tool around in the ranger, and Camille even had an opportunity to "drive." 

My sister Laura and her husband T were our first visitors to arrive on Friday evening. They got in around 7:00, just enough time to hang with Camille for a little bit before she went to bed. Then we just had a low-key evening of standing around the kitchen island and eating take-and-bake pizzas off of paper plates!

The next morning, my bestie from college arrived with her family around 11, and all eight of us piled in the car and headed to Sugar Mountain for their Oktoberfest festival. Camille got to ride on a bus from the lower parking lot to the event, so she seemed pretty jazzed about that new adventure. :)

We loved listening to the oompah band, and the dads even danced with the babies. It was hilariously cute. Ian bought Camille this cute little Spyder cap that matches perfectly with one of her fleeces. It was drizzling rain, but we just braved it and had such an enjoyable time.

On the way home, we stopped for some good barbeque at the Peddlin' Pig, and Camille and Ella were able to sit together and steal food from each other. We LOVE seeing these girls together. They are so similar personality-wise and it's a hoot to witness. 

Back at the house, after afternoon naps for the girls, we all relaxed, watched the Clemson game, and then some of us took the babies to go see the horses at a nearby stable.

That evening, after getting the girls down, we picked up takeout from a nearby family billiards spot and watched (duh) more football. Our family and friends all left the next morning, but we were able to make two fun stops before we left town, which was nice. First, we took the ranger down to the stables again and let Camille say bye-bye to the ducks and horses. The weather was just perfect. 

And next, we stopped at this shop in Boone where Camille was enamored by a giant blow-up cat. She is seriously obsessed with kitties. It's adorable. 

We were tired from the weekend, but Sunday evening, Ian and I chatted before bedtime about how wonderful it was to get away to a place that means so, so much to us. If you've been to Boone, you know. Life slows down, priorities back home float away, and nature just shines brightly. 

The good stuff.